Next week, one of the most anticipated days in the homeschool calendar is coming to Lincoln. Bigger than Christmas and bigger than the state convention, it is the Lincoln City Libraries’ annual book sale. My daughter has even been saving up her laundry money for the big event and now has just over ten dollars she is anxiously counting up in anticipation. With almost everything priced between fifty cents and a dollar, the biggest problem is the very real likelihood of going a little overboard and bringing home a half ton of books that I not only do not need, but may never open again. So here is my first attempt at a working list to hopefully help me keep my priorities straight. Please feel free to add any tips or suggestions.
History
This year, we are focusing on the twentieth century and I have exactly two relevant books (in English, anyway): 1898, and World War I and European Society.
Biographies. Any suggestions of people I should particularly be on the look out for?
Topical histories. Major wars and the Depression are sort of obvious, but I would like to look at some social history as well. And I would love to pick up a book about the history of radio.
Science
Field guides. All sorts. No homeschool should be without a shelf dedicated to identifying local flora and fauna.
Hands on projects/experiments.
Any Facts On File materials, should they happen to be available. The last one I found has formed the backbone of our science curriculum, and I am close to shelling out the $150 + they cost to purchase new. They are that good.
More biographies.
Books about raising chickens and about beekeeping, two projects we are hoping to undertake next year.
Art
Just about anything. We do not have much in the way of art books, but mostly I would like to pick up a few coffee table books featuring particular artists or movements so that we have something visual to look at during our studies.
Literature
Classics. Just about anything else, I’d rather just check out. But these books will take us longer to read, and may well end up with a bit of writing in the margins.
And books on tape/CD. My kids will listen to them over and over and over in the car, making errands both educational and enjoyable for all of us.
For Mouse
Some books about horses. But of course, I likely will need only show them to her and she will buy them herself.
For Bear
Any and everything about frogs. And lizards. And snakes. But mostly frogs.
For Bug
Bug is mostly interested in whatever her older siblings are up to, but she does like books with whimsical and sort of impressionistic art in them. At least those are the books she picks up at the library. I may just let her go through the bins and pick something out.
For L. E. Fant
Books with photographs. They are her favorites and she will study them at great lengths.
It is all so exciting and a little overwhelming. What kinds of things do you look for at book sales?
The first book I ever bought was at our school library used book sale. I was in 2nd or 3rd grade and I bought a copy of The Phantom of the Opera for 25 cents. To this day, that story is one of my favorites, and now my children love it, too!!
Have fun at the sale!
Sallie
OOoo, that sounds so exciting. Hope you find some treasures! I’ve never been to a book fair.
Never been to a library book fair? You poor, deprived soul!
It is a lot of fun. I had a twenty dollar limit last time I went, and still came home with a ton of great stuff, most of which has been our science curriculum for the last two years. Not bad for twenty bucks.
I was just talking about that with my husband, Sallie. I think my daughter would enjoy that one. It was all the rage amongst my high school friends and I mostly just made fun of them. How little I knew.
For modern history — we just finished Freedom Train, a biography of Harriet Tubman, which was excellent and much enjoyed, and I also recommend Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, a short historical novel in which a young Danish girl and her family help her Jewish best friend and her family escape to Sweden. Lots of interesting historical detail woven into a very touching story. And the Scientist just finished reading Animal Farm (can you believe it?), and loved it — she asked what communism was, so my dh handed her that book. And if you’re really lucky for L.E., maybe you can snag one of those board books of close up photos of faces — those are such a hit with wee ones!
I always look for biographies, history, art books, and classics. I sound like you!
We really enjoy the old Landmark books, and they are getting harder to find.
And I’m impressed you have a plan. I just go crazy, but I think your method might work better. I did find a $5 bookshelf at a yard sale last weekend, but the books multiple faster than bookshelf deals.
Those sound like great books, Rebecca.
And I’ll let y’all know what I find next week, after I find it.
I tend to gravitate toward science and history books and good fiction that is being removed from the library. I especially love it when I can get lovely older books that are being removed to make more room for the latest pulp fiction series with a cartoon tie in. I once found seven of the books from The Rescuers series (the little mice from the Disney cartoons actually had their own series of books first). Last year I found several volumes of photo essays from Russel Friedman.
Also books on handcrafts that I hate to buy new. Things I can just hand to the kids and let them go create.